UNCLE BILL'S FIFTH ANNUAL FAMILY gathering held in Northglenn, Colo. was truly a De Thouars family affair. It remains one of the premier martial events in the world, bringing experienced teachers and 'players' from throughout the world. This time, another of the De Thouars amazing blood family, Victor, who is Willem's younger brother, also taught. Victor at 58 has the playfulness of a teenager, but one who can break baseball bats on his shins.

There was never a doubt this was a family affair with Joyce and Vicki de Thouars taking care of the organization and all the necessary nitti gritty to make this kind of event happen.

Joyce had even made her basement into a bunkhouse. The backyard and dog run from early in the week was the venue for early arrivals to check each other out and exchange developments in training.

Perhaps this event was held in suburban Denver, but it could just as well been a training hall in an earlier century in China, Indonesia, or Japan.

By Friday night of the first weekend in October the insanity at the de Thouars house had reached the usual peak of frenzy. The common language for 'nieces' and nephews from Europe, Scandanavia, South and Central America, Mexico and Asia was martial good-fellowship. (Perhaps next year Africa will be represented). As usual people drove and flew from all over the lower 48 states.

The gathering took over the Northglenn Rec Center. It's one and one-half stories being at this bit of suburbia's epicenter as well as being the tallest building in town.

(Actually the only risky part of the gathering was when negotiating six-laned streets and one freeway that were totally lacking in sidewalks but rendered navigatable with six second pedestrian lights!).

There were six 'stations' this year that we rotated through in groups. In one, Victor deThouars (Maurice, another de Thouars brother, who teaches in Holland, couldn't at the last moment attend) aided by powerful and energetic Joe Simonet, offered his personal take on the Indonesian arts with his very direct and explosive Sirak.

It seemed to me to have Hsing I's energy and direct line. For the first time I got a little understanding of Silat-related arts' slight incline of the body. Joe proved to all interested that this body structure with entrances at a straight line, but inclined work every time.

I think the only question might be about the wear and tear through the years on the practioner.

The next station, working clockwise, was of David Champ's Tai Chi. (Isn't it amazing that this formidible family, famous for its combative arts, included two Tai Chi stations and one of Pa Kua!)

In fact that was one of the understandings I brought home, that at the present stage of Willem's cultivation of his 'backyard' he is encouraging the cross pollination of the Chinese internal arts with his Kun Tao Silat (not to mention his unique grasp of primordial energy and primary movement).

David Champ's Tai Chi, with a bit of Phillipine sticks thrown in, reminded me of the beneficial manipulation of the skeletal structure that cooperative 'joint hands' can accomplish. This practice also is conducive to the natural evocation of 'root' and the 'energy body.' Root is best sought out when competition is reduced to the bare minimum. (Our own Kurt Baker who started Tai Chi at age l4 on the Mendocino coast with that group known to some as 'Uncle Bill's Irregulars,' and who travelled to Taiwan with them in l996, now continues to improve under the tutelage of David in Prescott, Arizona.)

Uncle Wayne Welsh provided the Pa Kua input, constantly reminding us of the similarities and derivations from Willem's Kun Tao.

This was most recognizable in his small circle Pa Kua, with it's orbiting almost in place (recognizable in Uncle's entrances where he spirals this way and then that way from the point of interception, torturing all the way into the body.)

Don Miller's Tai Chi station was next and Don in every way has brought Tai Chi to show its practical face in Willem's energy expressions. His modification of short Yang Tai Chi postures has monkey energy and Willem's electrical explosiveness. He also manifests 'stick- ing' energy with two person knife work.

Don reminded us that Tai Chi is an energy system (Chi Kung) that has withstood the test of time. He had us repeat postures with the understanding that multiple, multiple repetitions created energy and martial under- standing of that posture and its historical variations.

Just like Tai Chi sword play, Don's 'sticking ' drills taught the quick shuffle run of lion pacing with it's rooting qualities even at tempo (the weighted foot being directly under the center line). This work is also aerobic but most importantly it teaches soft, conscious stepping -- like a cat.

After Don we were at Uncle's station while whatever he did varied from group to group. I came awy with the overwhelming feeling of the reality of transimisson. He invites the players he works with to make discoveries and innovations within the parameters of their individual training and creativity. His disinterested joy in each person finding his or her own way creates an energy and gratitude that must be the feeling of that historically ambiguous word: transmission.

It is amazing the escalation of personal ability when working around Willem (rather than self-consciousness). I even myself did, at his request, part of a form with total absorption for the first time in my life. I think Bear Roberts' development proves the point. Because of Bear's distance (on the Calif. coast) he is unable to train regularly with Uncle.

Of course Willem's 'bangers' (Chuck, Keith, Steve, Philip, et. al.) tend to hang out at his station so that 'players' can riff of the prescribed moves.

The last station was that of Andre Knustgraichen. I think the lasting memory of his teaching was that or the effectiveness of passing the knife from hand-to-hand (taught in rhythm aided by his senior Paul). When this has been drilled into the subconscious, it works.

As always, much of the meaning of Willem's gatherings was in forming and renewing friendships. And I think a lot of us felt that especially much this year.

There was also the off-court study of martial principle (and sometimes simply energy principles). I remember particularly working late at night with Steven Tarrago and Frank Broadhead exchanging insights on the principles of rooting and of vibrating palm.

Steven uses Willem's vibrating palm for every single strike, even including it on oneself as Chi Kung or preceeding an outward-bound strike for energy disturbance.

He showed how important it was to hit like the hand was a wet towel -- not too much intention and not too hard. That is what makes the neurological effect of this strike so surprising. Steve Buck says that if you practice on your own thigh by just letting the forearm fall and it produces a serious sting, "you've probably got it." Both Steve Buck and "Steven Tarrago practice on trees or logs to learn the right feeling.

THANKS UNCLE, FOR ALL THE GIFTS.